Sometimes when doing a project, images are made that don’t quite fit into the context of the work, whether it is shown in an online gallery or in the real world. As such, they generally never see the light of day. This is one such image that I was reminded of yesterday. It was taken by my fine assistant on the day Clive Moloney.

The project Gubu was done as part of a 4-week residency with Limerick City Gallery in the summer of 2009, and born out of my own frustrations with the Irish Economy and our fine government. Myself and Clive went and done a recce on a Friday to this place in Silvermines about an half hours drive from Limerick city. The place suited the theme of a destructive landscape, so we said we would come back on Monday, by which time some travellers had moved in. Given that I was going to be dressing up as a clown and wandering around this place, I thought I should introduce myself. I chatted to what I assume was one of the parents. She said she would keep the kids away. Makeup on, Gubu’s clothes on, we began to work. The daddy’s came back at some stage and upon seeing a gobshite clown in the field they had to screetch to a halt and ask me to come up to the kids when I was done, which I did. This photo was taken as we were introduced.

Gubu may well be dying out as we begin February 2011, but if history is anything to go by, he’ll be back before long. More images and video can be found on my website.